Yolo County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....HILLIER , Kenneth L.  November 30 2002
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Peggy B. Perazzo pbperazzo@comcast.net July 17, 2004, 12:15 am

"The Davis Enterprise," Monday, December 9, 2002
Kenneth L. Hillier

Kenneth L. Hillier died peacefully on Nov. 30, 2002, at the University
Retirement Community in Davis. Born on May 10, 1916, in Hoople, N.D., to Charles
W. and Minnie Hillier, he was 86.

He received his bachelor's degree from Mayville State Teachers College,
Mayville, N.D., in 1940. In 1943 he married his golden-haired girl, Alouise
Trana, the love of his life.

He served with honor in the 8th Army Air Force, 381st Bomb Group, in England.
Capt. Hillier earned the respect of countless B-17 bomber crews whose lives
depended on his accurate weather predictions over European targets. He was one
of the few meteorologists to accurately forecast conditions for the invasion of
Normandy on June 6th, 1944.

After the war, he returned to school to earn his master's degree from the
University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. He taught
economics for 10 years at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. The
balance of his teaching career was spent at Eastern New Mexico University in
Portales, where he retired in 1981.

In retirement, he and Alouise enjoyed an active life pursuing their interests in
travel, the outdoors, and hobbies ranging from rock hunting and jewelry making
to antique clocks. He was active in Kiwanis, Good Sam, university and county
retiree associations and Trinity Lutheran Church.

Known for his collection of bolo ties as well as his beaming smile and gentle
sense of humor, he made friends wherever he went. He and Alouise shared a
special interest in international students, and they still receive letters from
former students who remember his hospitality, as well as his patience and skill
as a teacher, as a treasured part of their American experience.

He and Alouise moved to Davis in November 2001. In the last five months of his
life, he was surrounded by his family and tenderly cared for by the staff of the
University Retirement Community Health Care Unit and Yolo Hospice. Throughout
his final journey, he never lost his sweet good nature or ability to offer his
signature, beaming smile.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alouise; five children, Lynn Gore of
Davis; Susan Hillier of Petaluma; Ann Hillier-Toureau and her husband, Norm, of
Fremont; Ruth Shinnick, and her husband, Drew, of San Francisco; and Charles
Hillier, and his wife, Lisa, of Stavanger, Norway.

He is also survived by sisters Frances Hillier of San Jose; Elizabeth Dekker of
Fremont; and a brother, Lloyd Hillier, of Sun City, Ariz.. He is further
survived by his grandchildren Brian Gore, Jennifer Parks, Caitlin
Hillier-Toureau, Heidi Hillier and Nils Hillier; and by numerous nieces and
nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Marcel, of
Hoople, N.D.

A memorial celebration of his life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lutheran
Church of the Incarnation, 1701 Russell Blvd. in Davis. For those who wish to
make memorial contributions, the family suggests Yolo Hospice, 132 E St., Suite
3e, Davis CA 95616.


Additional Comments:
Submitted with the permission of the "The Davis Enterprise," 315 G Street,
Davis, CA 95616.

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